Wednesday, March 14, 2012

I've been invited to contribute some sort of humorous skit or reading this Friday night at our ward's Relief Society birthday dinner. I've been thinking about it since they asked me last Friday, and thought "There's nothing funny about Relief Society..."

I went online this afternoon to make an effort to find something...and these ladies of the Waipahu Samoan First Ward have definitely proved me wrong. First good hard laugh I've had all week. Thanks, ladies! This reminded me of when some of our Samoan sisters in the Langley Singles Ward organized the RS to do a similar dance at our ward Luau, (although I don't remember anyone getting that funky!) That was such a fabulous activity.

So, after you guys watch this...let me know if you have any suggestions for me...I need it asap!

It would be funny to do what they did but as the Rock 'n Relief Society. The act could begin in an entirely misleading way with one woman making a seemingly serious and uplifting (brief) statement about RS and the sisters' amazing willingness and capacity to serve, sustain, and uplift each other through the ages, etc. etc. Maybe even read an applicable quote from the book Sis. Beck introduced last year that we all got a copy of. (Can't think of the name of it right now and too lazy to go look.) Then, the "serious" woman should narrow her focus down to your particular ward, saying something about how proud she is to be part of a sisterhood that has and continues to carry that torch and lift it high. (She should seem very moved, maybe even tremble her voice a little if she can manage it convincingly.) Finally, still serious of course, she should say something like..."When our sisters need us, the xx Ward Relief Society really knows how to...(pause)...ROCK and ROLL. Music comes on, the rest of your performers jump out dressed in 50s or early 60s attire, one carrying a sign that says "xxx Ward Rock 'n Relief Society." At the same time, classic rock'n roll oldie music blasts out and you all start dancing...using the old, lame hand jive moves in a really dumb way doing the pony. You could also add the twist, mashed potato, jerk, etc.

this was hilarious. i especially love the comical sister dressed in blue who made her own dances. The only good relief society activities I ever enjoy was 2 of them. 1... was a rs birthday our ward had when the ditto family was here. Debbie Ditto arranged a candy steal to go on through the whole evening. Everyone got a candy bar when they arrived and if you crossed your legs or arm someone could come and steal your candy. This became a hilaroius moment for the sisters as they battled between each other to get these candy bars. She also had a dance contest where the sisters had to demonstrate some of their best moves on the dance floor. This was a hoot and some sisters were so comical. She had also arranged everyone who had a talent to display it in the culturak hall. Sisters brought out some of their talents in toll painting, art painting, poetry, nail art design, sewing (Quilts), or by showing off their creative skills in other ways. At the end of the evening whoever had the most candy bars got a gift certificate to Faroh's chocolates, The best dancer got a gift certificate to 5 dance classes at a dance studio and the most creative got an award and a basket of full of goodies. All donations from local stores.

2...When I was rs counselor under your Mom, I arranged a Country night. We had country food for dinner...mash potatoes, fried chicken & cornbread. I got a dance studio instructor to come and teach us (3) country line dancing which the sisters loved and I also had a large basket full of goodies which I got donations from stores full of great stuff for the best apple pie that was also our dessert. I also had as a craft a wooden pumpkin painting for every sister to hang on their front door for Thanksgiving. It was so good that our rs attendance went from our usual 9 sisters to 59 sisters that night. I did publize it a lot and I asked every sister to bring a friend. I hope this gives you some ideas.

What a fun video. I love all the others ideas. I wish I had something good for you. I myself have just been asked to teach RS on Sunday...TofOT #6. I have no clue what to do, and I like to be creative. I know you will come up with something...you are so clever!

I want to make a suggestion. We are meant to have JOY! As women we take ourselves so seriously and it gets us down. WAY DOWN. Find the humor in daily living. Parenting, church calling, casserole patrol....some times a YW camp skit or even more barbaric of a BSA camp skit. We just need to laugh and march to our own drum. It doesn't necessarily need to be a dance or a song. I could be as easy as wearing a paper bag (like your princess) and smiling with your prince. You can make it fun!

HMMM just right off the top of my head you could do a play on how "WE, Can do it all" (almost true, but not quite). Walk in and rave about how you've dyed your own hair (wear a wig that's black) or cut your hair (really bad cut with wig), made your own cloths (put someting horrible together), made a turkey dinner (make it look green jello) and end with something that RS have that is right......testimony. Just an idea.

Thanks for posting the video! Put a much needed chuckle in my day. I'm sure it'll be great, whatever you come up with. I'm curious about your luau. We're doing one as an open house/missionary effort activity and I'm at a loss. Can you share some of what you guys did? Thanks!

I didn't plan our luau, just attended, but we had a handful of Samoans in our ward...the Samoan brothers did a dance and I think fire was involved. They roasted a pig. The RS sisters did a dance. But before the entertainment, there was "traveling" going on. When you arrived, you were given a "passport" and you had to go room to room to see the demonstrations and get your passport stamped. Once you went to each room, you could enter the Luau in the gym. You could use the rooms to talk about the culture as well as the church...which I think is what we did. It was definitely THE MOST memorable activity at church that I have ever been to!

Do a Pinnning skit...like pininterest...and ham it up. Sort of a one woman show. You make badges or use RS stickers. As you stick it on a sister, say a compliment...or what that lady is good at doing or showing. Maybe you know something special and somewhat secret about her. Go around to all the sisters. Or, get others involved. Like a snowball effect. You pin one lady, then pass the basket of pins to her. She in turn has to pin someone in the room...until all have gotten a compliment. And then, you just need to come up with something funny at the beginning about clicking and pinning on line...and sum it all up about being a sisterhood, etc, etc. Or, maybe the pins are just a pin with ribbon...blue for RS I guess. That's what I would do, anyways.

I think the "pinning" idea could be so cute and fun.... kind of like you've just gotten completely addicted to pinterest and organizing the things you like and then get distracted by a sister and go pin her... may have to file this away for the next time I get asked to do something. Love it including compliments. I'm a seminary teacher and we do weekly "snaps" but now I'm thinking a pinning could be fun.